These passages are conversations between Job and his friends. In Chapter 21 Job responds to his friend Zophar. Previously Zophar thought that the happiness of wicked people would not last. Job disagrees with Zophar as he knew that many wicked people were successful live full lives.
Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts—
30 that the wicked are spared from the day of calamity,
that they are delivered from[c] the day of wrath?
31 Who denounces their conduct to their face?
Who repays them for what they have done?
Even though Job had been successful early on he was glad to serve God. God mattered more than his wealth.
In Chapter 22 Job's friend Eliphaz describes the evil deeds he believes Job has committed and believes that is why he is suffering.
Is not your wickedness great?
Are not your sins endless?
6 You demanded security from your relatives for no reason;
you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked.
7 You gave no water to the weary
and you withheld food from the hungry,
8 though you were a powerful man, owning land—
an honored man, living on it.
9 And you sent widows away empty-handed
and broke the strength of the fatherless.
10 That is why snares are all around you,
why sudden peril terrifies you,
Eliphaz wanted to help Job hoping Job would confess his evil deeds to God and that God would forgive him and he would be successful again. Eliphaz had no evidence that Job had committed any of these sins but as his friend he was trying to figure out the reason for Job's suffering. Eliphaz meant well but unfortunately this would have been disheartening for Job to hear.
“Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.
22 Accept instruction from his mouth
and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:
If you remove wickedness far from your tent
24 and assign your nuggets to the dust,
your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold,
the choicest silver for you.
26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
and you will fulfill your vows.
28 What you decide on will be done,
and light will shine on your ways.
29 When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’
then he will save the downcast.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent,
who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.”
In Chapter 23 Job looked for God and he did not know where God was but God knew where Job was. Even though Job said he couldn't find God he continued to follow God. In times of challenges sometimes we want to see a sign of where God is but God is always with us even though we may feel at times like we can't see him. Job remains strong in his faith even in his toughest times and he believes that when he stands before God that God will see that he remained faithful.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
4 comments:
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. - Job 23:10
Making pure gold is a process and requires heat. We feel pressure when we experience trials and temptation, but it's that process of having discomfort and trusting in God in those times that we are shaped and made into the people we are today.
My prayer is that when I am in the fire, that I would be willing to let God purify me so that I could be as pure gold, ready to do His will.
I like how Job sets the tone in chapter 21:3 - Bear with me while I speak,
and after I have spoken, mock on.
Job knew ahead of time what his friends attitude would be.
22:21 -Submit to God and be at peace with him;
in this way prosperity will come to you.
So often Christians and churches today still believe that those that are rich are right with God, and that those that are less fortunate have sinned to put themselves in that position. How wrong that is, our earthly possessions and wealth are not an indication of where our spiritual lives are at. The Bible mentions that blessed are the poor. A humble attitude and one of servitude are what we all need to strive for, not an attitude of entitlement and gaining wealth at all costs.
They spend their years in prosperity
and go down to the grave in peace.[a]
14 Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone!
We have no desire to know your ways.
Job knew that he had to accept the bad times along with the good. How often do we claim to want to be closer to God but if that means losing everything like Job did do we really want to??
Love your point about God knowing where Job was, even if Job didn't know where God was. We need to remember that God has not changed, and He not moved away from us. He is faithful and He is present. Sometimes we may FEEL like He has moved, because we are in despair or fearful or overwhelmed or.... But He has not moved. He is faithful. And we need to anchor our beliefs on what we know to be true from His Word, and not on what we feel.
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